Complaints about hiring practices and bullying dominated Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting. Several staff members approached the podium to talk about perceived racism within the district’s hiring practices. Some parents said the district had not done their due diligence in complying with the harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) policies in schools. Elizabeth Perry wanted […]
Vincent Maximilliano Onofre
Vincent Onofre is a journalist based in the tri-state area. Raised in Texas, he has found a love for the northeast and New Jersey pizza. His go-to beats include politics and civics, healthcare and education. He has BA in English from Pace University and MS in Journalism from Columbia University.
Posted inEducation
A Rancorous BOE Meeting Hits Teacher Shortage, Ethics and Threats
A rancorous Board of Education meeting on Thursday night was dominated by the teacher shortage, ethics complaints and talk of threats. Numerous parents and even one student took to the podium to complain about the district’s teacher shortage, which has been going on for months and they say is threatening to prevent the full curriculum […]
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Ioffe Elected BOE President Despite Ethics Charge
On Thursday evening, the Board of Education held their reorganization meeting, electing Natalia Ioffe as the new president despite the ethics charges lodged against her for a letter she published during the last election cycle. Ioffe had written in support of three candidates running as the “Education Matters” team. Those candidates were elected only a month […]
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Board of Ed Presidential Candidate Hit With Ethics Complaint
Tonight, the Jersey City Board of Education convenes for the first meeting of 2023 where they will be voting in a new president due to Gerald Lyons’ departure in December. Two candidates, Vice Presidents Natalia Ioffe and Gina Verdibello are vying for the spot but Ioffe is coming into the vote with an ethics complaint […]
Posted inEducation
A Changing of The Guard at the Board of Education
The Board of Education meeting Wednesday, Dec. 21 largely featured farewell speeches of two departing members: board president Gerald Lyons and trustee Alexander Hamilton. During public comment, residents rose to talk about the district’s human resources policy among other topics. Lyons, who has been on the board for nine years, thanked his fellow trustees for […]
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JCMUA Provides Update on Replacing Lead Water Lines
The Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority updated the City Council on Nov. 22 on its plan to replace 16,000 water lines in Jersey City that are lined with or made of lead. In February the utility had announced plans to replace approximately 1,000 of the lines per year. That work has begun, according to JCMUA executive director Joseph […]
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Groups to Offer Free Thanksgiving Meals to Thousands
As families make last minute trips to the grocery store in preparation for Thanksgiving, organizations around Jersey City are getting ready for one of the biggest food drives of the year with plans to feed thousands around the community. One of the organizations providing Thanksgiving dinners is Mercy Nonprofit in association with South Hudson Civic […]
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Astor Place Garden Again Dominates Board of Ed Meeting
At last night’s Board of Education meeting, one topic dominated: the reopening of the Astor Place Garden. Members of the community and the Black Interest Team Enterprise program spoke up to ask the board to open this community space and to provide users with restroom facilities. Calling the garden “essential to her congregation,” Pastor Doris […]
Posted inEducation
What Board of Education Candidates Say on the Issues that Matter to Voters
With the upcoming election, Jersey City residents have gone all over the internet to ask Board of Education candidates and other community members for answers to their most pressing questions before voting on Tuesday, November 8. Online chatter has focused on three issues: an unpopular tax increase, teacher shortages, and low-test scores that were further […]
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Liberty Humane Assailed for Banning Volunteers From Accessing Services
Liberty Humane Society is under scrutiny once again. A group of volunteers who care for Jersey City’s stray and feral cats say that the Bergen-Lafayette animal shelter has banned individuals from using services for purported violations of unwritten “guidelines” and that the organization often fails to adequately respond when asked to assist with colonies of […]